u/Due_Day_3346

Demographics: 21M, Height: 180cm, Weight: 75kgs
Medications: taking some painkillers suggested by doctor
Smoking status: Non-smoker
Previous/Current medical issues: None
Duration and Location: 24 hours ago, India

Hey everyone, looking for some advice or personal experiences from people who have been through this, especially orthopedic professionals.

I was riding my bike home from playing badminton a few days ago when a car tried to overtake me on the wrong side and hit me. I took a hard fall on my left shoulder and ended up with a mid-shaft clavicle fracture. I’ve attached the X-ray below.

As you can see in the X-ray, there is a decent amount of overlap between the bone ends. My doctor laid out two options and I’m torn on what to do:

Option 1: Let it heal in a sling (Conservative)
The doctor said it will heal fine this way, but because of the overlap, it will heal slightly shorter and leave a permanent, visible bone "bump" on my shoulder.

Option 2: Surgery (ORIF)
Getting a titanium plate and screws put in to line it up perfectly straight. This would mean no bump and perfect anatomical alignment, but I’d have a surgical scar and permanent metal hardware under my skin.

My Lifestyle/Goals:
I want a 100% recovery, but my goals are purely general fitness. I love playing badminton, doing push-ups, and using dumbbells/machines at the gym to stay in shape. I do not do heavy powerlifting or deadlifts. Knowing my goals (badminton and general gym fitness), which route would you recommend medically? Would the conservative route (shorter collarbone) negatively impact my shoulder biomechanics for regular gym work?

The pain is awful right now, especially trying to sleep propped up, so any medical tips on surviving the first couple of weeks are also highly appreciated. Thanks!